MEHMOOD UL HASSAN KHAN
Dream comes true. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) wins the bid to host World EXPO 2020. UAE expo-2020 theme entitled ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future: Partnerships for Global Innovation and Sustainable Development’ won the hearts and souls in Paris where majority of the countries voted in favour of the UAE. Other candidates were Sao Paulo (Brazil), Yekaterinburg (Russia) and Izmir (Turkey). The government of Pakistan also voted for UAE, Dubai.
A wide range of celebrations are going on in the different parts of the country. A magnificent firework was arranged on Burj Khalifa as Dubai won to host Expo 2020. It is the beginning of a new era in the history of the UAE which celebrates its 42nd National Day this year.
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated Dubai on its successful Expo 2020 bid, describing the timing of the win as “auspicious”. In a telephone conversation to the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Khalifa said: “Our joy in the UAE was double by the win as it coincides with the celebrations of the 42nd National Day.
Sheikh Mohammed praised the “great support” of Sheikh Khalifa, and congratulated the entire nation. “I am proud of our teams who earned this victory for Dubai with two years of hard work, dedication and commitment,” he said.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of Dubai, said the success owed much to the support from the public. “We draw success from the spirit of the union that dwells deep within our people. “The milestone achievement marks a new phase in the UAE’s and Dubai’s economic development drive.”
The Dubai’s victory of World EXPO 2020 represents a real embodiment of the leadership’s wise vision to create channels of cultural, humanitarian, scientific and economic communication and encourages intellectual and cultural understanding among all peoples of the world. UAE, Dubai strong and stable macro-economy and fast growing banking industry along with its different comparative advantages in different key sectors played important role in winning the bid.
Its rigorous diplomacy, public relations, media projection and above all political commitment made it possible. Successful endeavors of the foreign ministry led my His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Dubai Expo 2020, HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein and the last but not the least, Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State and Managing Director of the Dubai Expo 2020 have succeeded to connect minds and created the future by winning World EXPO 2020 for Dubai.
It is again resultant of strategic vision of its leadership. It is the outcome of team work. It is a giant leap which will pay its multiplier effects in the near future. It would be great booster to its onward march of socio-economic prosperity and further diversification of macro-economy in the days to come.
World EXPO 2020 has multiplier economic effects. According to the latest study of the Oxford Business Group (2013) the expected revenue from hosting Expo would surpass to Dh139billion. According to expo 2020 organisers the World expo 2020 would expect to contribute an increase of €28.8 billion to Dubai’s GDP and €17.7 billion (Dh86.2 billion) in added value to its economy. It would generate more than 280,000 new jobs.
It would definitely accelerate the cycle of business productivity in the country and region as well. It would provide an ideal platform to share technical and scientific innovations and prompt communication among various cultures while promoting economic and business cooperation between nations. It would be truly a driving force of the economic, cultural and social transformation happening worldwide. It is estimated that more than 30 million people would be visiting the six-month event of world expo 2020 in Dubai.
It would be a real qualitative jump and direct benefit for SMEs. It will be a big opportunity for SME sector. The industrial sector would also be benefited and would provide the machinery and mechanical equipment, transport equipment and parts, base metal, chemicals, food and beverages and mineral products to the needs and preparations for expo 2020.
After winning the bid it is hoped that the sectors relating to tourism, real estate, construction, hotelier, service and the last but not the least, banking would be the biggest winners during the 2013-2020. It would also be beneficial for its Islamic economy drive. It would further strengthen its macro-economy stability and sustainability. It would be new chapter in its ongoing national drive of sustainable development through the help of diversification of economy in the longer term.